Great post Adam. Caxton is well renowned for his Canterbury Tales, and all his other translations, for the first time, into English. Because he was the first, there was such a demand for the best works, which he had to figure out how to prioritize what to translate, not always successfully, but it was certainly better than nothing. Canterbury is essentially in "Middle English" which is readable still today, and led to the standardization of the language. The other two leaves you mention, are really amazing finds as well. I wasn't aware you could get a piece of probably my 3rd favorite Shakespearan play, 2nd folio, at such a reasonable price.
I have mixed feelings about dealers who dismember books and sell them by the leaf. It may be true that they can get more money from a volume that way, and perhaps leaves are easier to sell because more people can afford them, but books have a hard enough time making it through the years without dealers pulling them apart. Although it could be argued that more people benefit by selling by the leaf, a single leaf would probably have a lower chance of being preserved over time. After the owner dies, an estate would be more likely to channel a rare book to an appropriate dealer than they would with a single leaf, which could fairly easily find its way to the trash if nobody understood or cared what it was or felt like dealing with it. But I certainly understand the appeal of buying single leaves for people who cannot afford many rare books.
Some books are susceptible to breaking - especially in years past - but the only dealers I know who do it are print dealers who break up beautiful books for the hand colored plates or atlases for maps - a practice I frown on. I don’t know any dealers who break up Incunabula or second folios of shakespeare any more (maybe decades ago) as the whole is worth so much more than the sum of its parts. The leaves I showed were likely dismembered from incomplete copies many years ago. Certainly the Caxton was taken apart on the 1930s as it is a bound fine press book
It's amazing how much passion you have Adam, knowledge and wisdom accordingly. After watching some of your videos, i can see how conducting sophisticated analysis, is essential for any successful antiquarian like yourself. I do have a question, how do you conduct your research? Is it based on experience only? Or do you have a method of criterion when analyzing a book. Also, i appreciate the eloquent somewhat poetic diction you use in your video's. It makes your videos that much more awesome!
My friend and I happened upon a copy of Horror Omnibus which is a combination of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Bram Stoker's Dracula. Doing some research as best as an amateur can, we found it to be a copy with a misprint in which they have spelled Shelley's name "Skelley". We seem to see it listed around $600 though I'm no expert in appraisals. Any thoughts?
Prices for Caxton leaves have been trending up. I keep getting outbid at Auctions. A retail price might be $1800-2000 for a leaf alone. Housed like this one in the fine press book with essay, perhaps $2500. I think I paid $1750 or so.
hello adam, when is a book considered rare? i have a book from 1698, only 4 or 6 copies know on worldcat and none for sale. is this rare or are there other factors?
“Freedom of the press” 1766 December 2, the Swedish. So from 1440 the year the press was invented. 326 years later we needed to make a rule. In the United States it became a rule 1791 December 15, so 351 years after the invention. Now some say that the Chinese had a printer in the 8th century. Just something this leaf made me think of. Mass communication oh I forgot the Germans made the first printer in 1439. So, it would appear we should have had narco polo bring back a printing press instead of silk worms. Imagine how the world would be if we had a pruning press from the 8th century, we would know about the dark ages for starters. Sorry, it’s so long
Great post Adam. Caxton is well renowned for his Canterbury Tales, and all his other translations, for the first time, into English. Because he was the first, there was such a demand for the best works, which he had to figure out how to prioritize what to translate, not always successfully, but it was certainly better than nothing. Canterbury is essentially in "Middle English" which is readable still today, and led to the standardization of the language. The other two leaves you mention, are really amazing finds as well. I wasn't aware you could get a piece of probably my 3rd favorite Shakespearan play, 2nd folio, at such a reasonable price.
Thank you for the thoughtful interesting comment Mike
So knowledgeable! How do you do it? You're obviously not reading a teleprompter. It's amazing to me. BRAVO!
Yes it is without a teleprompter for sure. Behind the scenes it is a bit impromptu In a very shorty before my 3 year old hurts in.
You do have a better sounding mic. Crazy to see those last leaves you showed looking so new.
I have mixed feelings about dealers who dismember books and sell them by the leaf. It may be true that they can get more money from a volume that way, and perhaps leaves are easier to sell because more people can afford them, but books have a hard enough time making it through the years without dealers pulling them apart. Although it could be argued that more people benefit by selling by the leaf, a single leaf would probably have a lower chance of being preserved over time. After the owner dies, an estate would be more likely to channel a rare book to an appropriate dealer than they would with a single leaf, which could fairly easily find its way to the trash if nobody understood or cared what it was or felt like dealing with it. But I certainly understand the appeal of buying single leaves for people who cannot afford many rare books.
Some books are susceptible to breaking - especially in years past - but the only dealers I know who do it are print dealers who break up beautiful books for the hand colored plates or atlases for maps - a practice I frown on. I don’t know any dealers who break up Incunabula or second folios of shakespeare any more (maybe decades ago) as the whole is worth so much more than the sum of its parts. The leaves I showed were likely dismembered from incomplete copies many years ago. Certainly the Caxton was taken apart on the 1930s as it is a bound fine press book
It's amazing how much passion you have Adam, knowledge and wisdom accordingly. After watching some of your videos, i can see how conducting sophisticated analysis, is essential for any successful antiquarian like yourself. I do have a question, how do you conduct your research? Is it based on experience only? Or do you have a method of criterion when analyzing a book. Also, i appreciate the eloquent somewhat poetic diction you use in your video's. It makes your videos that much more awesome!
My friend and I happened upon a copy of Horror Omnibus which is a combination of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Bram Stoker's Dracula. Doing some research as best as an amateur can, we found it to be a copy with a misprint in which they have spelled Shelley's name "Skelley". We seem to see it listed around $600 though I'm no expert in appraisals. Any thoughts?
Adam, what would be a fair retail price for the Caxton leaf, in your opinion?
Prices for Caxton leaves have been trending up. I keep getting outbid at Auctions. A retail price might be $1800-2000 for a leaf alone. Housed like this one in the fine press book with essay, perhaps $2500. I think I paid $1750 or so.
@@RareBookBuyer Thank you for the reply!
Ein Berger, what would now be hat and word would be ord and would ould and was is as. Ah what fun
hello adam, when is a book considered rare? i have a book from 1698, only 4 or 6 copies know on worldcat and none for sale. is this rare or are there other factors?
Not just the date. Many other factors. Feel free to send photos webuyrarebooks@gmail.com
“Freedom of the press” 1766 December 2, the Swedish. So from 1440 the year the press was invented. 326 years later we needed to make a rule. In the United States it became a rule 1791 December 15, so 351 years after the invention. Now some say that the Chinese had a printer in the 8th century. Just something this leaf made me think of. Mass communication oh I forgot the Germans made the first printer in 1439. So, it would appear we should have had narco polo bring back a printing press instead of silk worms. Imagine how the world would be if we had a pruning press from the 8th century, we would know about the dark ages for starters. Sorry, it’s so long
Interesting
I have got lot old books that I wanted sell
Please send photos webuyrarebooks@gmail.com
I wanted to sell my rare book
16th century
Please email webuyrarebooks@gmail.com
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